| The Doctor’s Advocate | Fourth Quarter 2006 |
Industry and Company News
The Doctors Company Enters into Agreement with OHIC Insurance Company
We have entered into an agreement to acquire OHIC Insurance Company (OHIC), a leading medical liability carrier in Ohio.
“We are pleased to announce this agreement, which will combine 2,000 Ohio physician-insureds, 23 community hospitals, and many other health care facilities with The Doctors Company’s substantial Ohio physician-member base to create the only physician-owned, Ohio-based medical professional liability insurer,” said Richard E. Anderson, M.D., F.A.C.P., chairman and CEO of The Doctors Company.
“We look forward to a close relationship with the Ohio health care community,” continued Dr. Anderson. “Ohio insureds will continue to receive the same personal attention that OHIC has provided for many years combined with the national reputation, financial strength, and excellent customer service that The Doctors Company Group provides to all of its policyholders.”
The Doctors Company will acquire OHIC as a wholly owned subsidiary. The acquisition is subject to approval by industry regulators and is expected to be completed in December 2006.
Convenient CME Opportunities
The Doctors Company leads the industry with innovative patient safety tools and services that can make a genuine difference in your practice.
We are proud to provide our members with convenient CME opportunities including approved CME activities that we sponsor. We also offer members two free hours of Category I CME through the industry’s only risk management/patient safety exam that can be taken completely online. To learn more about our exam, please visit our Member Area at https://secure.thedoctors.com/members/main/default.asp.
Watch for announcements early next year about our new CME services—including convenient online patient safety and specialty-specific CME courses.
For more information on our CME activities, please contact our Department of Patient Safety at (800) 421-2368, extension 1243.
Insights from the Florida Physician Advisory Board Meeting
The second meeting of the Florida Local Physician Advisory Board took place in Orlando on September 21, 2006.
The well-prepared group took part in a spirited and thoughtful discussion of the cases presented, demonstrating a keen ability to separate out “red herrings” that drew attention away from the cases’ central issues.
During a discussion involving a delay in diagnosing an ischemic bowel caused by a superior mesenteric artery occlusion, one of the surgeons gave strong, insightful opinions regarding the issues and problems with the defense of the case. These insights provided our defense attorneys and claims department personnel with a different perspective on how we can provide our members with the best possible defense.
Keeping You Informed About Claims and Patient Safety Issues
By now you’ve received your first issue of Progress Notes, our quick-read newsletter that makes it easy for you to stay informed about claims and patient safety issues. Look for the next issue to arrive in January.
The Doctor’s Advocate is published by The Doctors Company to advise and inform its members about loss prevention and insurance issues.
The guidelines suggested in this newsletter are not rules, do not constitute legal advice, and do not ensure a successful outcome. They attempt to define principles of practice for providing appropriate care. The principles are not inclusive of all proper methods of care nor exclusive of other methods reasonably directed at obtaining the same results.
The ultimate decision regarding the appropriateness of any treatment must be made by each health care provider in light of all circumstances prevailing in the individual situation and in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which the care is rendered.
The Doctor’s Advocate is published quarterly by Corporate Communications, The Doctors Company. Letters and articles, to be edited and published at the editor’s discretion, are welcome. The views expressed are those of the letter writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or official policy of The Doctors Company. Please sign your letters, and address them to the editor.